On 1 June 2016 at 12:33, Nigel Verity <nigelver...@hotmail.com> wrote: > I've recently gone over to 64bit Ubuntu versions on all my boxes and this > raised a question. Does every binary object in the repositories have to be > compiled twice - once for 32 and again for 64bit architectures - or can > 32bit compilations run on a 64bit host? > > If they are separate versions is there a likelihood that some particularly > obscure packages will fall by the wayside simply through being considered > not worth compiling for 64bit? Perhaps there is a formal policy on this.
As a general rule, 64-bit x86 OSes can run 32-bit code. So it is perfectly possible to run old binaries on a 64-bit OS. E.g. Microsoft has not updated Skype for Linux in years, and it is only available as a 32-bit binary, but it still works fine. However, it requires a whole load of 32-bit libraries to be installed to support it -- however, they come from the Ubuntu repositories and get updated along with the rest of the OS. -- Liam Proven • Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk • GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven MSN: lpro...@hotmail.com • Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven Cell/Mobiles: +44 7939-087884 (UK) • +420 702 829 053 (ČR) -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
